SEAN CISTERNA (Director, Producer)
Sean Cisterna is a Toronto-based filmmaker. A graduate of York University’s Film and Video Production/Screenwriting program, Cisterna began his directing career behind the camera on the PBS Kids’ show, “Ricky’s Room” (1999-2001). After directing commercials and on-air promos for Corus Entertainment for four years, he produced the feature film My Brother’s Keeper (2004) starring Aaron and Shawn Ashmore. In the fall of 2007, Cisterna was given a greenlight by YTV to co-produce and direct the teen musical, King of the Camp (2008). His new feature film road trip comedy, MOON POINT (2011), features a number of well-known young Canadian stars, including Paula Brancati, and heavy-hitters like Jayne Eastwood, Linda Kash and Art Hindle.
ROBERT LAZAR (Writer)
Rob Lazar has been writing professionally for well over ten years. Essentially, he rearranges letters in order to get money. It's a bit like ransom notes, but with less severed fingers involved. While his work has been recognized both in print and on film, Rob has absolutely no recollection how that came to be. Over the years, he has accumulated multiple writing grants, a couple of degrees and other notable awards in the hopes that one day history will look favourably upon him. He has developed original film and television properties for several creative companies that shall go unlisted as Rob is vehemently against name-dropping. When not moonlighting as a superhero sidekick, he spends his days working as a producer in the Entertainment Content department at Cineplex Entertainment LP. Rob enjoys talking about himself in the third person, he almost never sleeps, and he lives in a one-bedroom apartment over an opium den run by cartoon squirrels.
CHRISTIAN POTENZA (Producer)
Christian Potenza moved to the big city with a pair of ripped jeans, skateboard, a second hand bass guitar, and hopes of making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He was then plucked early from theatre school and started his voyage into the land of TV. His first role was a rookie cop on a soap opera. To follow were roles such as crooks, criminals, and strung out surfers. Then someone thought that it would be a good idea to put this talented, and versatile actor in commercials,….BOOM!. Now this guy was everywhere, and soon earned the title of “THAT GUY” in a multitude of amazing ads. After earning many awards and “BUCKETS” full of cash from the advertising industry, he decided to try something different. Cartoons and voice work seemed like the next logical step. Christian now voices characters on many of North America’s most popular shows. Christian is the voice of Chris McLean, on “Total Drama”, Jude Lizowski on “6Teen”, and Trevor Troublemyer on “Sidekick” to name a few. He has opened up THE CHRISTIAN POTENZA ACADEMY OF AWESOME VOICE ACTING, and he has also started up his own production company with many projects, ranging from animation, YOUTUBE videos, and feature films, in development.
AVI FEDERGREEN (Executive Producer)
Avi Federgreen’s nearly twenty years of experience in the Canadian film industry features many highlights, from music videos to TV series to full-length feature films. Starting in the locations department, he moved quickly into production management, line producing, post supervision, and producing.
Federgreen’s current projects include I’m Yours produced with Jennifer Jonas and Mallary Davenport of New Real Films, directed by Leonard Farlinger and starring Rossif Sutherland (High Life) and Karine Vanasse (Polytechnique); and as executive producer, Moon Point produced by Sean Cisterna and Christian Potenza, directed by Sean Cisterna and starring Nick McKinlay, Paula Brancati, and Kyle Mac.
Chosen to open the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, Score: A Hockey Musical, written and directed by Michael McGowan and starring Olivia Newton-John (Grease), Noah Reid (Naturally Sadie), and Stephen McHattie (Pontypool) captures the fervour of Canada’s two favourite pastimes in a story big on humour and heart. George Ryga’s Hungry Hills, directed by Rob King (Something More, Moccasin Flats – Redemption), starring Keir Gilchrist (United States of Tara), John Pyper-Ferguson (Brothers and Sisters) and Gabrielle Rose (Mothers and Daughters) premiered at TIFF 2009.
As exec producer, Federgreen has also worked on the dramatic short film Hidden Driveway, produced by Sarah Zammit and Sarah Goodman, directed by Sarah Goodman and which premiered at TIFF 2011; and Little Larry produced and directed by Jill Carter. Also produced by Federgreen She Said Lenny (produced wth Mallary Davenport), and directed by Jim Donovan premiered at WSFF 2011; Tight Space, Scout, and The Chair, all written and directed by Cory Kinney, and the Canadian Film Centre short Pudge, directed by Annie Bradley. Pudge premiered at TIFF 2008 and screened at several other acclaimed festivals internationally. The Chair achieved a Bronze Award at the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival in 2001.
More successes for Federgreen as producer include the Shaftesbury TV series Good Dog, written and directed by Ken Finkelman (The Newsroom), starring Finkelman and Lauren Lee Smith (Lie With Me); documentary As Slow as Possible (directed by Scott Smith), an official selection of HotDocs 2008; and the music videos Giving Thanks (Tamara Podemski), and Tough as a Pickup Truck (Jim Witter).
Federgreen’s co-production credits are impressive and varied. The feature film One Week, written and directed by Michael McGowan and starring Joshua Jackson, was named Best Canadian Film in the 2008 Calgary and Edmonton film fests, and was an official gala screening at TIFF that year. The film surpassed the $1.2 million Canadian box office mark, was the #1 rental on iTunes, and finished in the top 10 in DVD sales in Canada during its first week of release. High Life, directed by Gary Yates, starring Timothy Olyphant, Rossif Sutherland, and Joe Anderson, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and was featured at TIFF 2009. Leslie, My Name Is Evil, directed by Reginald Harkema, produced by New Real Films and starring Kristen Hager and Gregory Smith, also screened at TIFF 2009, and lastly the nationally acclaimed TV mini-series It’s Me…Gerald, (Showcase).
Federgreen’s diverse experience also includes supervising producer on the first two seasons of the Saskatoon-based TV series Rabbit Fall (starring Andrea Menard), and as associate producer for the feature film Emotional Arithmetic, starring Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, and Christopher Plummer.
Federgreen is currently in post-production on the first ever Canadian fully financed 3D feature titled Dead Before Dawn produced by April Mullen and Tim Dorion of Wango Films and directed by April Mullen. The film stars Devon Bostick (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Martha MacIssac (Super Bad), and Brandon Jay McLaren (The Killing). Federgreen is currently in pre-production on his next feature film with acclaimed director Mike McGowan entitled Still.
ALEXANDER VERDURMEN (Associate Producer)
As an honours graduate from the Film and Media program at Queens University with a specialization in media and marketing, Alex is perfectly suited to his title as Production Manager. With experience in both Film Production and Advertising, Alex brings his knowledge, experience, and dedication to getting the job done on budget, and on time. Having held a camera in his hand since his earliest memories, Alex has always had a desire to bring ideas to live and the pursuit of making a film. Having teamed up with the rest of the Moon Point crew and being a relative rookie to feature films, Alex can certainly say this has been the best experience, but certainly not the last.
CARL ELSTER (Director of Photography)
Originally from the West Coast, Carl grew up in Vancouver where from a young age he was an avid sailor, animator and photographer. In 1999, he set sails east to the centre of Canada’s independent film community, Toronto, to follow his dream of becoming a filmmaker. There he completed his BFA in film production at York University specializing in Cinematography and Producing. By 2004 he had his first film in official competition at the Toronto International Film Festival. Carl’s films have garnered awards and prizes all over the world for acting, directing and cinematography. When he’s not working on his own films, Carl is an active member of the film community in Toronto working as a director of photography and lighting technician on features and TV shows. He also owns and operates a successful film production company that produces web commercials, music videos, shorts and features of all types and genres. He has a small roster of directors that he works with regularly and is always looking for interesting projects to work on in the future.
MICHELLE SZEMBERG (Editor)
Michelle Szemberg was born in Toronto and graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree from the film and video program at York University, where she focused on Editing. After graduating, she began working as an assistant editor. She has worked with some of the most recognized Canadian filmmakers and editors, such as: Peter Lynch, Helen du Toit, Caroline Christie, Wiebke von Carolsfeld, Susan Maggi, Jeff Warren, Sudz Sutherland, Sturla Gunnarsson, Chris Donaldson, Avi Federgreen, Rod Deogrades and Michael McGowan. She is currently editing various projects with a number of young, talented filmmakers. Her latest project is editing the independent feature film, MOON POINT.
JO ALCORN (Production Designer)
Jo graduated with a B.A from a Liberal Arts School in New York City, during which she had the opportunity to explore Europe studying colour and architecture. With her experience from having traveled extensively and studying such a wide array of designs she is flexible to meet the needs of any challenge. Jo’s passion for design and her flare for entertaining were showcased on HGTV’s “Design to Win”, 2007 “Designer Superstar Challenge” and as the design expert on the Discovery Channel’s “Canada’s Worst Handyman 3”. Jo’s most recent TV adventure is being the small space expert on CBC’s “Steven and Chris Show”. Her expertise was proven when she was hired on as the Production Designer for a film that was released in 2008 on YTV and DVD and one hitting the film festivals this fall, among other small film projects. With her experience, drive and pure talent in decorating/design and planning events for several Fortune 500 companies in the U.S, she has been running her own successful business since 2005, which caters to clients design needs. Jo has enjoyed the process of making a name for herself in the industry. She has developed a diverse client base and is most proud of being able to provide style and continuity for a range of personalities and decor preferences. Jo’s most recent adventure has been designing her own furniture line. Stylish environmentally friendly furniture locally made and designed on the principle of quality. Jo’s furniture is showcased on whitewashco.ca/shop and loved by many high profile designers, design bloggers and online social networks, along with a growing list of publications within Canada and the U.S. You can find Jo this Fall/Winter semester teaching at Humber College North Campus in the decorating and design department.
MARK ALEXANDER (Composer)
Mark Alexander is a Toronto based Composer and Producer who’s music has been featured on Life Network, W Network, TVOntario, YTV, and Treehouse Television. After attending the prestigious Claude Watson School for the Arts, Mark continued his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music, then York University, studying under virtuoso pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico and the late, noted avant-garde composer, James Tenney. Mark earned an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree specializing in Music Composition. He also graduated with a B.Ed, specializing in Music Education.
After scoring a number of independent films and television series, Mark spent several years teaching Film Scoring as well as Music Fundamentals and Post-Production Audio at Toronto’s Trebas Institute. He has also taught music and technology for the Toronto and York Region school boards.
Mark is a proud member of SOCAN, and the Songwriters Association of Canada and was a 2010 FACTOR grant recipient. Mark is currently the Senior Producer and Resident Composer at Winding Lane Music.
LISA GUSTAFSSON (Key Make-Up and Hair Stylist)
Lisa Gustafsson, make-up artist and hair stylist. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden. Came to Canada in 2008 after starting her career in Swedish Television. Lisa further developed her skills in SPFX and prosthetic make-up at North Americas leading make-up school, Complections International Academy of Make-up Artistry. Since then she has been busy styling Miss Canada pageant girls, working on TV commercials and shows as well as celebrated Canadian actors and comedians in anything from feature length films to the latest videos on Much Music. Some of her upcoming projects include keying Summer Pictures newest thriller "Dead Dreams" as well as a new web series, which she will also be co-producing, premiering in the fall of 2011.
